Group Programs

MITS  Summer Institute 2009

July 6-17

Inquiry-Based Science:
Investigating Water and Energy Concepts in the State Frameworks Integrating hands-on, minds-on STEM activities to enrich all areas of your curriculum

Join the MITS (Museum Institute for Teaching Science) educators in any one of nine different regions throughout Massachusetts to reinforce, renew, and reintroduce concepts in these areas. Take part in the Summer Institute with museums involved in sharing and engaging teachers in Grades K-8 with inquiry-based, hands-on activities.

Dive into currents to better understand water and energy - in the classroom and in the field. How do currents impact important life systems? Art, literature, math, and science will be used to show you how currents drive vital cycles on land, in the ocean, and in the air. Explore the direction and speed of real currents using a current drifter, GPS and mapping techniques during a cruise on a research vessel in Woods Hole. Go sailing aboard "Sarah" to learn how currents reduce energy costs, aid exploration, and power recreational activities. Investigate how animals and plants are carried around the world by currents. Why do some marine animals strand? How does a stranded sea turtle receive help? Go behind the scenes of a marine life center to find out. Visit a working research center and observe how coastal energy sources impact energy use. Receive proven, and develop new, hands-on, inquiry-based curriculum for your classroom.

Teachers will learn how to: Engage their students; Connect the frameworks; Develop inquiry-based, hands-on, minds-on activities; Integrate the inquiry-based methodology across their curriculum; and Create memorable learning experiences.

The Institute is designed for K-8 science, math, classroom, special education, pre-service, and substitute teachers. Aides, curriculum specialists, home schoolers, and administrators are welcome.

Earn PDPs and College Credits.

Participants may earn one of the following levels of Professional Development Points (PDPs):

  • 60 PDPs for completing two Lesson Plans following the MITS lesson format (1.0 PDPs/hr are awarded).

  • 90 PDPs for participants who choose graduate credits and complete a unit outline plus 1 complete lesson plan from the unit outline following MITS unit and lesson formats (1.5 PDPs/hr are awarded).
Graduate credits: Participants who choose to receive graduate credits are required to complete the requirements for 90 PDPs and all materials are submitted for grading. Please refer to location sites for information on the participating college, cost, and credits offered.

All participants receive a free subscription to Science Is Elementary with activities, background information, and resource lists related to Water & Energy , as well as $30 worth of additional resource materials.

Cape Cod Region

Partners

  • OceanQuest, Inc. - Lead
  • Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
  • Cape Cod Maritime Museum
  • The National Marine Life Center

Callback Dates:
October 29, 2009 and March 26, 2010 from 5:00-7:00 pm

Graduate Credits Offered:
Participants of the Cape Cod Summer Institute have the option of receiving 4 graduate credits from Cambridge College or 3 credits for Framingham State for an additional $150 or $195, respectively, if they complete all requirements. Payment for graduate credits is due on the first day of the Summer Institute and the check should be made payable to MITS, Inc.